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State News

6:30 am

Tue March 24, 2015

When lawmakers in Springfield begin crafting a state budget for next year they'll have $2 billion less to work with than they had last year. That decrease stems from a drop in state's income tax rate, but a new survey says Illinoisans would be up for new revenue, if it meant fewer cuts.

State News

4:12 pm

Mon March 23, 2015

There's just one week left until lawmakers in Springfield go on a two-week spring break, and leaders from both parties say they want to use this week to close the budget holes left in this year's budget.

State News

6:39 am

Thu February 19, 2015

Governor Bruce Rauner has long blamed Illinois' pension systems for the state's budget woes. He not only says public employee unions have too much power in negotiating pension deals, but also that the nature of the plan itself -- defined benefit -- is fiscally irresponsible.

State News

4:55 pm

Mon February 9, 2015

Since his election in November, Governor Bruce Rauner has expressed surprise about what he says he's "discovering" in the state's budget. As it turns out, Rauner has been setting himself up to ask for special budgeting powers.

State News

4:08 pm

Fri February 6, 2015

Governor Bruce Rauner is staking out his political ground and digging in his heels, preparing for what could be multiple showdowns with the Democrat-controlled legislature this Spring. In a speech in Decatur this morning, the governor reiterated his plans to attract more business to Illinois, the governor also made a similar speech in Peoria.

State News

5:55 pm

Wed February 4, 2015

Aside from his successful career in the business world, Governor Bruce Rauner's other pre-election claim to fame was his work in the education community. Rauner ran for office on a promise to increase funding to classrooms, and rethink how money is funneled from the state down to schools.

Politics

5:40 am

Tue December 30, 2014

It's been 12 years since Illinois had a Republican in the governor's mansion. But in two weeks, governor-elect Bruce Rauner will be sworn in, breaking that Democratic streak and attempting to live up to his campaign promise to "shake up Springfield." Illinois Public Radio's Hannah Meisel spoke with IPR's statehouse bureau chief Amanda Vinicky about the year in Illinois Politics, and what lies ahead for a state lagging behind the nation in economic recovery

State News

5:55 am

Fri December 19, 2014

Nine months after the Illinois Supreme Court struck down the state’s eavesdropping law, the legislature passed a bill to replace it. The legislation, which defines eavesdropping and its consequences, is currently waiting on the governor's desk.